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ToggleIn the South, marijuana reform has been slow to actualize. Now, after years of effort and uncertainties with the legislature, medical marijuana in Mississippi is legal. However, medical cannabis is not quite available for purchase yet – but the near future is promising.
Are there dispensaries in Mississippi? When will Mississippi dispensaries open? Here, Elevate Holistics will discuss the future of medical marijuana in Mississippi, Mississippi dispensaries, and how to get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi. Let’s dive in.
Is Marijuana Legal in Mississippi in 2022?
First off, is marijuana legal in Mississippi? In the southern state, medical marijuana is legal while adult-use cannabis is still illegal.
In November 2020, more than 70% of residents voted yes to pass Initiative 65, legalizing medical marijuana. On the same ballot, voters rejected a competing measure, measure 65A, which was a far more restrictive alternative.
However, less than a year later, the Mississippi Supreme Court found Measure 65 unconstitutional because of the state’s signature requirements for ballot measures. The state threw out Initiative 65 along with Mississippi’s entire ballot initiative process.
After that, the Mississippi legislature got to work on a medical marijuana bill. In January 2022, the legislature passed SB 2095, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. Less than a month later, Gov. Tate Reeves signed the legislation, making Mississippi the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana.
Finally, MS residents are closer than ever to the medical marijuana access they voted for.
Click here to learn more about the history of Mississippi’s marijuana laws.
Mississippi Medical Marijuana Laws
So what are Mississippi’s medical marijuana laws? What are the dos and don’ts of consuming cannabis in Mississippi?
- Patients with a qualifying condition will be allowed to purchase up to 3.5 grams of marijuana or a single gram of concentrate each day. The monthly limit will be a total of three ounces of any form of cannabis.
- Patients and caregivers cannot grow their own cannabis.
- You cannot publicly consume marijuana, consume it in the workplace, while operating a motor vehicle, boat, train, airplane, or other vehicle or transport method.
- Cannabis flower is capped at 30 percent THC while concentrated products are capped at 60 percent THC.
- Employers can refuse to hire or discharge an employee due to the individual’s medical use of medical cannabis.
- Mississippi decriminalized small possession of cannabis in the 1970s. However, possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis is punishable by a fine of $100 to $250 for the first offense.
When Will Mississippi Dispensaries Open?
Dispensaries are licensed businesses that sell legal and locally grown cannabis products. It is also known as “cannabis stores,” “pot shops,” and “weed stores”. Dispensaries can be medical, recreational, or CBD-only.
While medical cannabis is legal in the state, it is not yet attainable. So are there dispensaries in Mississippi? Not yet, but there will be in the near future.
So when will Mississippi dispensaries open? The state anticipates that cannabis products will become available to patients in late 2022. This will allow time for marijuana cultivation in the state and required safety testing.
Recently, the Magnolia State began accepting applications for dispensary licenses — and they’ve received over 100 applications thus far. The state hasn’t placed a limit on the number of dispensaries that are allowed to open. Currently, the state has a Mississippi medical marijuanas dispensary approved list that overviews upcoming dispensaries.
So, how do you get a dispensary license in Mississippi?
How to Get a Dispensary License in Mississippi
As of July, the Mississippi Department of Revenue is responsible for licensing any dispensary in Mississippi.
To apply for a dispensary license in Mississippi, you must submit an electronic application to the Mississippi Department of Revenue. To submit an application, you must:
- Register with the Medical Cannabis Portal
- Select the business application type
- Confirm your Portal registration via email
- Return to the Portal to sign in and create your application
Radius laws prevent dispensaries from opening up too close to other cannabis stores, churches, or schools. For example, before a dispensary in Mississippi applies for a license, it must ensure that it will be greater than 1500 feet from an already issued licensee’s main point of entry.
There is a 30-day approval time for completed licensure applications.
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Mississippi
To access any upcoming dispensary in Mississippi, you’ll need your medical marijuana card. Let’s get into how to get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi.
First, you’ll need to meet one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions. These include cancer, Parkinson’s disease, HIV, PTSD, muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimer’s disease, among several other conditions.
To confirm that you qualify for one of the state’s qualifying conditions, patients must meet with a participating MMJ physician with whom they have a known relationship to receive a medical certification. Mississippi-licensed physicians, certified nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and optometrists are all allowed to issue MMJ certifications.
In the future, patients can book an online doctor’s appointment for an MMJ card with Elevate Holistics – quick, straightforward, and simple.
Within 60 days of receiving your medical certification, patients must apply to the Medical Cannabis Program as a patient on the Mississippi State Department of Health website and pay the $25 state fee. After approval, patients will receive an electronic identification card to use at any dispensary in Mississippi.
Get Ready for Mississippi Dispensaries with Elevate Holistics
So are there dispensaries in Mississippi? Not yet. When will Mississippi dispensaries open? The state anticipates that MS dispensaries will open later this year. That means it’s time to prepare yourself for access to Mississippi dispensaries – and Elevate Holistics is here to keep you up to date.
Elevate Holistics is not yet offering online doctor’s appointments for Mississippi MMJ cards. But when the time comes, join over 50,000 happy patients who have received MMJ card certification through Elevate Holistics.
Our secure, fully online service virtually connects patients with certified MMJ doctors for medical card approval – keeping them informed throughout the process.
Do you want to know more about how to get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi? Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on all things cannabis, including when Elevate Holistics will be offering Mississippi medical marijuana certifications.
Wait! Before you go…
Do you know someone who could benefit from medical cannabis? Here at Elevate, we make the MMJ card process effortless. Simply send them our way and we’ll help them get a medical card at an affordable price — right from home. Plus, we have various services beyond just getting you your MMJ card.
Do you live somewhere where recreational cannabis is legal? Believe it or not, you could probably benefit from a medical card more than you think. MMJ cards help you save serious money, you get priority at your local shops, and you likely can buy (and maybe even grow) more weed than before. Click here to read about the benefits of getting an MMJ card; or, click here to book an appointment today.